Dev's Digest: Markanday '100 percent interested' in playing for India

Chesterfield winger Markanday expressed strong interest in representing India internationally, though current rules require surrendering his British passport and taking Indian citizenship.

Dilan Markanday, the first British South Asian to play for Tottenham in the club's 140-year history, has told Sky Sports News he is "a hundred per cent" interested in playing for the Indian national team. The Chesterfield winger attended India's Unity Cup match against Jamaica this summer and was impressed by the quality and professionalism of the squad. "I'd love to be able to dive into that, add to that and be a part of that," Markanday said. "I feel like I've got good quality to add to the team to hopefully go on, go to tournaments and compete at a good level."

However, Indian football regulations currently require diaspora players and Overseas Citizens of India to surrender their overseas passport and take up Indian citizenship to represent the national team. Sky Sports News previously reported that Indian football chiefs are increasingly confident these restrictions will eventually be relaxed to allow British-based diaspora footballers to play for India.